Richard Francis (Head of E-learning, Oxford Brookes University) talks about the RADAR project

Richard Francis (Head of E-learning, Oxford Brookes University) talks about the strategy behind the RADAR project, and the benefits for teaching staf

Algebraic de Rham theory for weakly holomorphic modular forms of level one

We establish an Eichler-Shimura isomorphism for weakly modular forms of level one. We do this by relating weakly modular forms with rational Fourier coefficients to the algebraic de Rham cohomology of the modular curve with twisted coefficients. This leads to formulae for the periods and quasi-periods of modular forms.Comment: 25 pages: final version; added references and several minor correction

Implementing a university e‐learning strategy: levers for change within academic schools

This paper describes the implementation of an e‐learning strategy at a single higher education institution in terms of the levers used to promote effective uptake and ensure sustainable embedding. The focus of this work was at the level of the academic school using a range of change practices including the appointment of school‐based learning technologists and e‐learning champions, supporting schools to write their own strategies, a pedagogical framework of engaging with e‐learning, and curriculum development and evaluation of school‐supported projects. It is clear that the implementation of the e‐learning strategy has led to a large and increasing proportion of our students experiencing blended learning. In addition, there are initial indications that this has enhanced some learning and teaching processes. Where there has been sustainable embedding of effective e‐learning, the following levers were identified as particularly important: flexibility in practices that allow schools to contextualise their plans for change, the facilitation of communities of key staff and creating opportunities for staff to voice and challenge their beliefs about e‐learning

SHADOW PRICE IMPLICATIONS OF SEVERAL STOCHASTIC DOMINANCE CRITERIA

Stochastic dominance criteria can be, but seldom are explicitly, applied to problems having continuous variables. A previously developed model is modified to facilitate exploration of sets of shadow price vectors for decreasing (non-increasing) absolute risk aversion stochastic dominance (DSD), a combination, TGSD, of third degree stochastic dominance (TSD) and generalized stochastic dominance (GSD) and a combination, DGSD, of DSD and GSD. The model is illustrated by applying it to two risk efficient (primal) solutions of a problem by Anderson, Dillon and Hardaker. For each of the two primal solutions and, where relevant, three risk aversion coefficient intervals, selected aspects of the sets of shadow price vectors consistent with TSD, DSD, TGSD and DGSD are compared with each other and with sets of shadow price vectors consistent with GSD and second degree stochastic dominance (SSD).Demand and Price Analysis,

TARGET MOTAD FOR RISK LOVERS

Although risk analyses of discrete alternatives often identify at least one efficient set for persons who prefer risk, preference for risk is usually ignored when the decision variables are continuous. This paper presents a version of Target MOTAD which can be used when there is preference for risk.risk, target MOTAD, risk seeking, risk lovers, Risk and Uncertainty, D81, Q12,

VOLATILITY OF CASH CORN PRICES BY DAY-OF-THE-WEEK

The volatility of St. Louis cash corn bids by day-of-the-week is examined for the period September 1992 through August 1999. Thursday to Friday, Friday to Monday and Friday to Tuesday (with a holiday on Monday) price changes tend to be larger than other day-to-day changes.Financial Economics, Marketing,

Pitfalls in QCA's consistency measure

Background. As a consequence of difficulties in movement initiation and execution, people with Parkinson's disease (PD) are typically encouraged to consciously monitor and control the mechanics of their actions. This is described as 'reinvestment' and has been shown to help mediate effective motor output. Paradoxically, in situations where people with PD are particularly motivated to move effectively, reinvestment may exacerbate existing movement deficits. Objective. To examine the propensity for reinvestment in a sample of people with PD. Methods. A volunteer sample of 55 people with PD was asked to complete a previously validated measure, the Reinvestment Scale. A sub-sample (and age matched controls) was asked to complete a recently developed, movement specific, version of the Scale. Data was collected on Mini Mental State Examination and the Hoehn & Yahr Scale. Participant demographics, including age of onset and duration of disease, were also collated. Results. Multiple regression analyses showed that duration of disease was associated with reinvestment score on both the Reinvestment Scale and the Movement Specific Reinvestment Scale. Conclusions. Participants appeared to become more aware of the mechanics of their actions over time. Possible explanations for this finding are discussed with reference to rehabilitation. Copyright © 2007 The American Society of Neurorehabilitation.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Chalk streams and grazing mute swans

The evidence shows that swan grazing can reduce plant abundance, prevent flowering, reduce water depth and reduce fishery value. However, these effects seem to be limited to a small number of sites on larger chalk streams. The results of attempted management have been disappointing, and we currently have no simple effective means of preventing grazing damage. However, our understanding of the effects of swans on the chalk stream ecosystem has been growing rapidly, which gives us hope for future solutions. In particular, combining strategies which improve river condition and move swans away from sensitive areas could offer a way of managing grazing effects

Wimba Pronto pilot

Slides from a presentation, describing the aims of the pilot project to use Wimba Pronto at Oxford Brooke

The effects of acute hydrogen peroxide exposure on respiratory cilia motility and viability

COVID-19 has seen the propagation of alternative remedies to treat respiratory disease, such as nebulization of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). As H2O2 has known cytotoxicity, it was hypothesised that H2O2 inhalation would negatively impact respiratory cilia function. To test this hypothesis, mouse tracheal samples were incubated with different H2O2 concentrations (0.1–1%) then cilia motility, cilia generated flow, and cell death was assessed 0–120 min following H2O2 treatment. 0.1–0.2% H2O2 caused immediate depression of cilia motility and complete cessation of cilia generated flow. Higher H2O2 concentrations (≥0.5%) caused immediate complete cessation of cilia motility and cilia generated flow. Cilia motility and flow was restored 30 min after 0.1% H2O2 treatment. Cilia motility and flow remained depressed 120 min after 0.2–0.5% H2O2 treatment. No recovery was seen 120 min after treatment with ≥1% H2O2. Live/dead staining revealed that H2O2 treatment caused preferential cell death of ciliated respiratory epithelia over non-ciliated epithelia, with 1% H2O2 causing 35.3 ± 7.0% of the ciliated epithelia cells to die 120 min following initial treatment. This study shows that H2O2 treatment significantly impacts respiratory cilia motility and cilia generated flow, characterised by a significant impairment in cilia motility even at low concentrations, the complete cessation of cilia motility at higher doses, and a significant cytotoxic effect on ciliated respiratory epithelial cells by promoting cell death. While this data needs further study using in vivo models, it suggests that extreme care should be taken when considering treating respiratory diseases with nebulised H2O2